Committee debates phased ban on lead ammunition; farmers and hunters seek exemptions or study

Senate Bill 181, introduced by Senator Lewis Young, would require the Department of Natural Resources to phase in non-lead ammunition for hunting all game species by July 1, 2029, with a phase-in beginning July 1, 2027, and an availability exception if non-lead ammunition is not commercially available.

Senator Hester offered an amendment to allow individuals hunting under a deer-management permit to use lead ammunition until June 30, 2031; Hester said many farmers rely on crop-damage permits and "this was going to be a financial hardship on the farmers in particular because they shoot, you know, more deer under their crop damage permits than anybody else." Supporters of a study amendment (Senator Gallian) argued for a directed, comprehensive study of availability, costs, wildlife impacts (including scavengers), enforcement practicality and federal/state approaches before imposing a statewide ban.

Proponents of the ban cited wildlife and public-health concerns raised in other states; opponents emphasized uncertain availability and cost of non-lead alternatives, potential enforcement burdens for DNR, and impacts on hunting heritage and agricultural damage mitigation. Senators also discussed whether lead in venison donated to food banks poses a public-health risk and whether published studies definitively tie those outcomes to lead ammunition.

Nut graf: The committee heard competing policy rationales — environmental and wildlife-safety concerns for removing lead from ammunition versus economic and practical concerns for hunters and farmers — and two amendments were introduced: one extending a targeted exemption and another replacing the ban with a directed study.

Ending: The committee chose to hold the bill to allow further review, additional information requests, and possible compromise language to address availability, enforcement and economic concerns before returning to the committee for a decision.